Inventory control device for fuel dispensing devices



Dec.. 4,*1951 E, R, Elm-)NER 2,577,115

INVENTORY CONTROL DEVICE FOR FUEL DISPENSING DEVICES ec.1 4, w E. R.EICHNER 2,577,115

INVENTORY CONTROL DEVICE FOR FUEL. DISPENSNG DEVICES www/i292? @www @w@M/QW Dec.A 4, 1951 E. R. EICHNER 2577?5 INVENTORY CONTROL DEVICE FORFUEL DISPENSING DEVICES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 16, 1945uunumummmmummmnn a6 55 nA M 2l/TlflllllllllllllllllllllllIIIIMM www E. RECHNER Dec. 4, @5E

INVENTORY CONTROL DEVICE FOR FUEL DISPENSING DEVICES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4Filed April 16, 1945 iik/511er De@ 4, 1951 E. R. EIcHNl-:R 2,577M5INVENTORY CONTROL DEVICE FOR FUEL DISPENSING DEVICES Filed April 16,1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 4,- 1951 2,577,115 OFFICE INVENTORYCONTROL DEVICE FOR FUEL DISPENSING DEVICES Edward R. Elchner, Montclair,N. J., assigner to Socony-Vacuum Oil Company, Incorporated, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application April 16, 1945, Serial No.588,491

This inventionis directed to a retail dispenser of liquids of the typecommonly known as curb pumps designed for delivery of gasoline and thelike from a storage tank to the gasoline tank of an automobile or othercontainer of small size for use by the ultimate consumer. Morespecifically, the invention is concerned with a novel element for use inconnection with said pumps whereby wholesale deliveries to the retailercan be made on a more satisfactory basis.

Many gasoline retailers, or service stations, handle relatively smallamounts of gasoline per unit of time and have limited cash and/or creditto pay for wholesale deliveries and must of necessity take smalldeliveries at frequent intervals. This involves considerable expensewhich should be avoided if possible.

I have designed a curb pump control which enables the supplier of suchsmall retailers to make large deliveries, with the economy attendantthereon, while avoiding unjustiilable extension of credit. Primarily.the apparatus consists of means for setting the pump, which is to makedeliveries from an.fassociated storage tank, to deliver only apredetermined 'quantity of liquid. After the delivery of the saidquantity of liquid, it is necessary to reset the device, even thoughthere may be large quantities of iluid in the associated storage tank,before further retail deliveries can be made.

One of the objects of my invention therefore is the provision of novelmeans to be associated with or used in combination with a liquiddispensing pump, for making said dispensing pump inoperative after thedelivery of a predetermined amount of liquid until the mechanism isreset for further dispensing operations.

claims. (ci. 222-17) downward taken substantially on the line 4--4 ofFigure 3;

Figure `5 is an enlarged top` plan view looking in the same direction asthe sectional view of Figure 4, but having parts broken away to showdetails of the switch actuating mechanism;

l Figure 6 is a sectional view similar to Figure 3 but showing the resetposition of various elements; i

Figure 7 is a view in vertical section taken substantially on the line1-1 of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view corresponding somewhat to Figure 1,showing the electrical connections, and having parts not forming a partof the electric circuit showing in relatively light lines;

Figure 9 is a view in elevation of a. conventional curb pumpillustrating another embodiment of my invention in operative position;

Figure 10 is a sectional view on the line III-I0 of Figure 9; f

Figure 11 is a plan view of the control device of i the embodiment ofFigure 9, the clutch-operated interlock being omitted in the interest ofcon- A further object of the invention is the pro;

vision in combination with a dispensing means and a meter and registertherefor of an electric circuit controlling said dispensing means, aclutch normally engaged to prevent resettingv of said register means andmeansjoperated either by predeterm'ned movement of the register or bydeclutching movement of the clutch for break- Figure 1 is a view inelevation of a conventional curb pump showing a preferred embodiment ofthis invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in elevation,"

looking at right angles from the left to the view Figure 3 is a view invertical section taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Figure 2, theactu.

ating shaft and pinion being shown in elevation; Figure 4 is a view inhorizontal section looking Cil venience of illustration;

Figure 12 is a view in section taken substantially on the line I2-I2 ofFigure 11, the clutchoperated interlock being omitted in the interest ofconvenience of illustration;

Figure 13 is a view in section taken substantially on the line I 3-I3 oiFigure 11, including a circuit diagram showing schematically aclutchoperated circuit control switch;`

Figure 14 is a side elevation of a reset key mechanism used inconnection with the control device of the embodiment shown in Fig-ure 9;and

Figure l5 is an end view of the reset keys shown in Figure 14 for usewith the embodiment of my invention shown in Figure 9.

The curb pump shown somewhat diagrammatically in Figure 1 is ofgenerally conventional design for the dispensing of gasoline andincludes a casing I0, and a register indicated generally at I I andhaving a door I2 arranged to permit'access to the interior of thecasing. Adjacent to the door within the casing is a control box I3secured to the rear wall of the casing. The box I3 carries a totalizerI5. Below the box I3 is a liquid meter I6 which is connected throughgearing later to be described, with the totalizer I5. The connectionbetween the meter I6 and the totalizer I5 includes the shaft I1 of themeter, which lshaft may be designed for eight revolutions per gallondelivered.'v

Positioned below the meter I6 is a gasoline pump 2I driven through abelt 22 by an electric motor 23 and adapted to draw gasoline through apipe 24 from an underground storage tank 25 and deliver the gasolinethrough a pipe 2B vto an air separator 21 and thence into the meter IB.From the meter I6 the gasoline is forced through pipes 28, 29 and 3| andis dispensed through a 3 hose 32. Interposed in the pipe 3| is a liquidflow indicator 33. Flow o1' gasoline through the meter I8 causesrotation of the shaft I1 and thus operates the register II whichpreferably may be capable of indicating the price per gallonbgallonsdispensed and total price of the liquid dispensed.

As stated above, the totalizer I is also driven from the meter I6. Thisdrive is through a series of gears and shafts shown most clearly inFigures l, 2, 3 and 4. The shaft I1 carries, keyed to it, a pinion 36which meshes with a gear 31 secured to and carried by a shaft 88 passingthrough and carried by the control box I 3. The shaft 38 drives a bevelgear 39 keyed thereto and normally meshing with a bevel gear 4I carriedby but rotatable on a sliding shaft 42 supported in keyways in thecontrol box I3. The bevel gear 4I normally meshes with a bevel gear 43carried on the upper end of and keyed to a shaft 44 also journaled inthe control box I3. At its opposite lower` end the shaft 44 carrieskeyed to it another bevel gear 4l which meshes with still another bevelgear 46 carried on and keyed to a shaft 41. The shaft 41 is alsojournaled in the control box and extends into and operates the numeralsof the totalizer I5. Thus, with the parts in position as shown, thepumping of gasoline operates the meter, which causes rotation of theshaft I1 and through the gears and shafts above enumerated operates thetotalizer I5 to show the total number of gallons remaining to bedispensed before the totalizer has to bereset. The above describedmechanism and especially the totalizer I5 comprises indicating means'movable responsive to movement of the meter shaft.

Liquid dispensing means are provided as above described whereby with theparts in their normal operative position, gasoline may be dispensed fromthe device as desired. There is also provided an electric circuitcontrolling operation of the dispensing means. Referring particularly toFigure 8, it may be seen that provided the switch in the switch box 48is closed (its normal condition) closing of the switch 49 (which isarranged to be operated manually as by lifting the nozzle 5I attached tothe hose 32 from its hook and/or by operating a switch on the nozzleitself) completes an electric circuit from the power source 52 throughelectric wires 53, 54, 55 and 56, switch box 48, motor 23, and switch 49and causes operation of the electric motor 23. This operates the pump 2|(Figure l) and forces gasoline through the path previously described andthe hose 32 so that it may be dispensed from the nozzle 5I.

Means are also provided whereby the dispensing of a predetermined amountof gasoline will interrupt the further pumping of gasoline until themechanism is reset. 'I'his constitutes means responsive to dispensingoperations to interrupt the circuit and make the dispensing meansinoperative after a predetermined movement of the indicating means. Thisis best shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5. 'I'he shaft 44 carries a worm 62which meshes with a worm wheel 63 carried by a shaft 64 and in turndrives a worm 65 carried by said shaft 64. The worm 65 drives a wormwheel 66 carried on a shaft 51. 'I'he worm wheel 66 carries a limit pin68 which is adapted at times to ride upon an actuator leaf 69 mounted onthe switch box 48. The switch in the switch box 48 is normally closedbut when the actuator leaf 69 is depressed either by the limit pin 68 orby the safety cut out means hereinafter to be described, the switch isopened and prevents completion of the electric circuit to operate themotor 23. As will be presently described, the action of the limit pin 68upon the actuator leaf 69 causes an interruption of the electricalcircuit and prevents further operation of the motor to drive thegasoline pump.

Meansare provided to set the apparatus to make possible the delivery ofany desired amount of gasoline before the circuit is interrupted. `Referring now to Figures 3 and 6 it may be seen that the' bevel gear 4Ialthough mounted for rotation on the shaft 42 may not movelongitudinally relative to the shaft 42 being restrained by collars 48and 10 and that theshaft 42 normally holds the bevel gear 4I in meshwith the gears 39 and 43 (as shown in Figure 6) the shaft beingpositioned between a spring 1I and the bolt 12a of the lock 12. By meansof the key 13, a representative of the wholesaler may withdraw thedowels of the lock 12 from their slots and the bolt allowed tomove tothe left to the position y shown in Figure 6. 'Ihereupon the shaft orrod 42 (urged by the spring 1I) moves to the left and the bevel gear 4Imoves out of mesh with the bevel gears 39 and 43. The bevel gear 4I thusconstitutes a clutch means for connecting the indicating means to thedispensing means. As the shaft 42 moves to the left it carries with itto the left a. rod 14 so that the lower end 15 of said rod 14 rides onthe actuator leaf 69 mounted on the switch box 48. Thereupon theelectric circuit is broken. At such time the representative of thewholesaler may (by means of a key tted into the keyway 16 (see Figure2,) of the totalizer I5) rotate the shaft 41 to reset the totalizer andthe associated gearing at any desired point. This rotation turns theshaft 44 and the bevel gears 45 and 43 and the worm 62 thereon androtates the worm wheelI 66 carrying the limit pin 6I! but (assuming thatthe bevel gear 4l has moved to the left) does not affect the bevelwheels 4I and 39 or the shaft 38, the shaft I1 or any of theintermediate gears or shafts. The totalizer is set to show the number ofgallons which may be dispensed. When the pump is again operated eachgallon dispensed subtracts from the total shown on the totalizer andmoves the limit pin 68 closer to the actuator leaf 69 so that when thelast allowable gallon is dispensed the totalizer reaches zero and thelimit pin 68 rides upon the actuator leaf 69 to depress the leaf 69 andopen the electric circuit. 'Thus the rod 14, together with itsassociated parts, constitute a safety cut out means, operated bydisconnecting movement of the clutch means (the bevel gear 4I) tointerrupt the circuit and make the dispensing means inoperative. Theshaft 41 carrying the keyway 16 constitutes means operable only when theclutch means is disconnected for resetting said indicating means and forreturning said additional switch means to a position in which it doesnot interrupt said electric circuit.

As has been pointed out above, means are proy vided to permit resettingthe limit mechanism so that additional gasoline may be dispensed andmeans are also provided whereby while the limit mechanism is beingreset, gasoline may not be dispensed.

The structure of thel switch included in the switch box 48 is best shownin Figure 7. As may be seen the box 48 houses a spring leaf 11 securedvby screws 18 to an inlet. pole 19 and carrying at its opposite end acontact element 86 adapted to move with a snap action between contacts8| and 82 secured in the box by screws such as screws 83. Howeverinasmuch as contact 82 'is insulated from all electrical connections, itis only when the element 19 is in contact with the con- 5 tact 8| that acircuit is formed. The contact 3l is secured by the screws 83 and isconnected with the outlet pole 04. The element is normally maintained incontact with the contact 8| but is moved out of contact so that theelectric circuit is broken whenever said element 80 is depressed by apin 85 bearing at its lower end on the element 11 but having its upperend extending through the switch casing and contacted by the actuatorleaf 69.

It is believed that the operation of the above described embodiment wil1be readily understood. Upon initial installation the control mechanismWill be set so that the pin 68 depresses the leaf 69 and the switch80-8I is open and no gasoline may be dispensed. Thereafter therepresentative of the wholesaler may fill the storage tank 25 partiallyor completely. Upon payment by the retailer for any specified gallonage,the bolt 12a of the lock 12 is withdrawn disengaging the bevel wheel (orclutch) 4I. The shaft 41 is then rotated to set the indicator I5 to showthe gallonage paid for. This rotates the pin 68 away from the leaf 69but the rod 14 (which was moved over the leaf 69 when the shaft 42 withwithdrawn) prevents the completion of the circuit through the contacsBil-BI. Then the representative pushes the bolt of the lock 12 in,moving the bevel wheel 4| into mesh with the Wheels 39 and 43 and movingthe rod 14 off of the leaf 59. This allows the contacts |30-8| to close.Upon closing of the manual switch 49 gasoline may be dispensed.

` The flow of gasoline through the meter I6 rotates the shaft I1 drivingthe register and the worm wheel E0. Movement of the wheel 66 eventually(when the indicator I 5 reaches zero) moves the pin 08 onto the leaf 69and again prevents further operation of the pump. Another payment orarrangement for creditmust be made by the retailer and the mechanismmust be reset before more gasoline may be dispensed.

The curb pump shown somewhat diagrammatically in Figure 9 is ofgenerally conventional design, including a casing |I0 and a registerpanel indicated generally at III. In the wall of the casing IIO is theusual door II2 to permit access to the interior of the pump andimmediately behind said door is a control box I I3 mounted in anysuitable manner, as from the spider |I4 (not shown in Figure 9). The box|I3 carries two totalizers I I5 and I I6, the former being connectedwith the meter forming part of the operative pump mechanism in a mannermore fully discussed below while the latter is independent of the pumpexcept for the support it receives from the main structure. Connectionbetween the meter |52 and the totalizer ||5 is by means of the shaft II1 of the pump meter |52, which shaft usually is designed for 8revolutions per gallon delivered. A pinion II8 is keyed to the metershaft III.

The pinion I I8 meshes with a gear I I9 rotatable about a shaft passingthrough and carried by the control box I I3, which shaft drives a bevelgear |24 keyed thereto and meshing with a bevel gear |25 on the shaft|28 of totalizer ||5. Shaft |20 is driven from gear ||9 through a jawclutch |40, operated by clutch lever I4I, the purpose of which willappear hereinafter. The elements are so arranged that rotation of themeter shaft II1 will cause reverse motion of the register in totalizer II5, reducing the number thereon by one for each eight rotations of shaftII1, indicating one gallon dispensed.

Also carried by and keyed to shaft |20 is a worm ISI in driving relationwith a worm wheel |2| on shaft |22. Asecond worm |23 on shaft |22 is indriving relationship with a worm wheel |21 carried in bearings onbrackets from the wall of the control box. This latter worm wheel isadapted, when a predetermined position is reached, to operate a relayopening the pump circuit or to otherwise render the pump inoperative. Inthe embodiment shown, a pin |28 on the worm wheel |21 engages an arm |29carried by the mounting of a mercury switch |30 which is normally biasedto closed position by a spring |32. The gear trains driving totalizer||5 and worm wheel |21 from shaft |20 are so related that mercury switch|30 will be opened when the reading on totalizer II5 is zero. The switch|30 is in series with the pump motor by line |33, and it will thus beseen that no deliveries may be made from the curb pump after totalizer II5 reaches the zero position.

Resetting of totalizer |I5 and operation of totalizer IIS is by means ofa key mechanism shown in Figures 14 and 15. This consists of a bar |34carrying two combined totalizer keys |35 and |36 corresponding to thetotalizers I I5 and IIG of the curb pump. The totalizer keys and |35each have shafts adapted at one end to engage and drive the shafts oftotalizers |I5 and II6 as by the keys |31 and |38, shown here as squareand triangular in cross-section, respectively. At their opposite ends,the shafts of totalizers |35 and |36 are adapted to receive a keyedhandle |39 in driving relationship. Thus, the totalizers I I5 and I I6can only be operated by means of the keys |31 and |38 driven by shaftsof totalizers |35 and |36, respectively, thus maintaining a record ofthe extent to which the totalizing key mechanism has been used.

Let it be assumed that a deliverly of 3000 gallons of gasoline is madeto a retailer who can pay for only 500 gallons. The driver of thedelivery tank truck disengages clutch |40 and advances totalizer ||6 by3000 units after delivering that amount, takes pay for 500 gallons andadvances totalizer |I5 by 500 units, after which the jaw clutch is againengaged. As the retailer dispenses gasoline, the reading on totalizer||5 decreases until the operator deems it expedient to pay foradditional gasoline and have the totalizer ||5 reset. Payment may beaccepted by a special agent or by a tank driver who happens to be in theneighborhood and the totalizer II5 is correspondingly reset. If,however, the retailer fails to pay for all the gasoline in his storagetank, he will be unable to dispense an amount in excess of that forwhich he has paid. An interlock is provided to prevent pumping when theclutch |40 is disengaged. Such an interlock is diagrammatieallyillustrated in Figures 9 and 13. The switch I4Ia in the circuitincluding mercury switch |30 and the driving motor I5I for the pump |53closes said circuit when the clutch is engaged, while if the clutch isdisengaged the motor |5I may not be operated. This arrangement serves toprevent frauds on the part of retail service station attendants sincethe amount of gasoline dispensable is entirely dependent upon thepre-set condition of register ||5. If an attempt were made to operatethe pump |53 without the register. it would be necessary to disengageclutch I 40 which would automatically open the motor circuit.

It will be further apparent that both the retail operator and the truckdriver have accurate records of net transactions. The driver, and hisemployer, can readily determine both the amount delivered and the amountfor which payment was accepted; and the retailer has a record of totaldeliveries and of the amount he can dispense without making additionalpayment.

It is to be understood that the above described embodiments are for thepurpose of illustration only and various changes may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of my invention.

This application is a continuation-in-part of applicants copendingapplication Serial No. 444,655, filed May 27, 1942, now Patent No.2,414,031. The embodiment of applicants invention illustrated in Figures9 to 15, inclusive, of this application was disclosed in the copendingapplication, and the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 8,inclusive, of this application represents an improvement -thereover.

,What is claimed is:

1. In a dispensing apparatus including a dispensing outlet, a supplytank, a mechanized pump for conveying fluid from said tank to saidoutlet, an electric circuit controlling the operation of said pump,switch means in said circuit and registering means controlled by fluidi'low from said tank, a meter and gear train between said pump andregistering means, and said fluid flow acting upon said meter and saidgear train, the improvement comprising clutch means constituting a partof said gear train, lock means for rendering said clutch engaged ordisengaged with said gear train, an additional switch means in saidcircuit, automatic means actuated by said gear train to open saidadditional switch means at a predetermined period of operation, meansoperable upon disengagement of said clutch to open said additionalswitch means and means operable only when said clutch is disengaged toreset said automatic means.

2. In a dispensing apparatus including a dispensing outlet, a supplytank, a mechanized pump for conveying fluid from said tank to saidoutlet, an electric circuit controlling the operation of said pump,switch means in said circuit and registering means controlled by fluidflow from said tank, said fluid ow acting upon a meter and gear trainbetween said pump and registering means, the improvement comprising a.disengageable gear in said gear train, lock means for maintaining saidgear in and out of mesh with said gear train, an additional switch meansin said circuit, a gear in said gear train having a projection thereonoperable to open said additional switch at a predetermined point ofoperation, means operable upon disengagement of said disengageable gearto open said additional switch means and means operable only when saiddisengageable gear is disengaged to reset said gear having a projectionthereon.

3. In a dispensing apparatus including a dispensing outlet, a supplytank, a mechanized pump for conveying fiuid from said tank to saidoutlet, an electric circuit controlling the operation of said pump,switch means in said circuit and registering means controlled by fluidflow from said tank, said uid flow acting upon a meter and gear trainbetween said pump and registering means, the improvement comprising adisengageable gear in said gear train, a shaft carrying saiddisengageable gear, said gear being mounted for rotation but xedlongitudinally with respect to said shaft, a rod rigidly carried by saidshaft, lock means for said shaft maintaining said gear engaged ordisengaged with said gear train, at least one additional vswitch meansin said circuit, a worm gear in said train, a pin fixed with and carrledby said Worm gear, means actuated by said pin to interrupt said circuit,said rod operative to interrupt said circuit upon disengagement of saiddisengageable gear, means operative when said disengageable gear isdisengaged to set said registering means and said worm gear whereby saidpin will interrupt said circuit at a predetermined interval ofdispensing operation which dispensing operation is made possible onlyupon re-engaging said disengageable gear.

4. In a dispensing apparatus, a fluid pumping means, an indicating meanstherefor, an electric circuit controlling the operation of said pumpingmeans, a gear train between said pumping means and said indicatingmeans, clutch means in said gear train for connecting said indicatingmeans to said pumping means whereby said indicating means is operated byoperation of said pumping means, switch means interposed in saidcircuit, means operated by disconnecting movement of said clutch meansto operate said switch to interrupt said circuit and render saiddispensing means inoperative comprising an actuating leaf element inconnecting relation with said switch means and a projecting rideradapted to operate said leaf element when moved by movement of saidclutch means, additional switch operating means movable responsive tomovement of said indicating means during dispensing operations to opensaid switch and render said dispensing means inoperative after apredetermined movement of said indicating means comprising a worm Wheelin said gear train, a pin secured to said worm wheel, and arranged attimes `to ride upon said leaf, and means operable only when said clutchmeans are disconnected for resetting said indicating means and forreturning said additional switch operating means to a position in whichthe switch does not interrupt said electric circuit.

5. In combination, a dispensing apparatus comprising a pump, an electricmotor driving said pump, an electric circuit supplying electric energyto said motor, -a meter having a member moving proportionately to theflow of fluid through said meter, means to conduct fluid from said pumpto said meter, means to conduct fluid from said meter, a control devicedriven from said moving meter member, a register operative responsive tomovement of said control device, a rotatable element driven responsiveto movement of said control device, a pin carried by said rotatableelement, a normally closed switch in said circuit, means engageable bysaid pin to open said switch, means to disengage said control device,means operative upon disengagement of said control device to open saidswitch, means to reset said register and said rotatable elementindependently of said meter operative when said control device isdisengaged.

- EDWARD R. EICHNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,948,984 Grandberg Feb. 27, 19342,247,480 Damon et al July 1, 1941 2,269,937 Hart Jan. 13, 19422,414,030 Eichner Jan. 7, 1947

